Rabbi Barash of Prague sent us to explore some of the areas surrounding Prague, where we could make contact with some of the 3,000 Jews who live scattered around the Czech Republic. The day’s destination was a town called Karlovy Vary, a spa city situated in western Bohemia, where thousands of tourists and residents of Prague go to visit. It is known for its relaxing atmosphere and therapeutic hot springs. We have heard that rebbes of Chabad visited this spa resort. (Most notable are the visits made by the third and fourth rebbes.)
The moment we got off the bus, we ran into a family visiting from Israel. The ladies asked us for some candles for Shabbat, and we gave them some. We offered the men a chance to put on tefillin, and they were excited to do so.
Throughout our journey, we met several tourists who were amazed that Chabad sends students around the world for the summer. It seems like the locals are thankful that their city doesn’t go unnoticed, and they appreciate the efforts taken to help keep Judaism alive in the outlying regions of the Czech Republic.
We made a stop at the kosher hotel/restaurant, Lauretta, home to great kosher dining. The owner treated us to a delicious lunch, as well as some personal stories of life in the city. It is amazing how Jews from all over the world meet each other in this corner of Eastern Europe.
After lunch, we made a stop in the Pupp Hotel—believed to be the place where the rebbes of Chabad stayed during their visits.
Toward the evening, we started to make our way to the bus station to go back home. Looking at the time, we realized that we had about 30 minutes to walk all the way back across the city to the bus terminal and get on the bus. Along the way, we continued to meet several tourists from Israel and France. We directed them to the kosher restaurant, dispensed mitzvahs, and even gave directions to spas. Apparently, we were now regarded as natives.
With ten minutes to go before our bus would leave, we met a Jewish resident of Karlovy Vary—a rarity in the tourist area of the city.
One minute after we arrived at the bus terminal, the bus pulled up, and a line formed. The bus was full, so it was a good thing we had bought tickets beforehand. While on the bus, we reflected back on the day, and how G‑d’s miracles and His divine providence aren’t just confined to the city of Prague, but also its neighboring cities . . . and the world.
